Governor Gives Go-Ahead for High School Sports This Fall in Michigan
And the crowd goes WIIIIILLLLD!!!!
Parents of high school athletes can put down the pitchforks and bust out their folding chairs and mascot sweatshirts - fall sports WILL commence in Michigan, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 176 this afternoon, which opens indoor gyms and pools that had been closed since March. As a result of this, fall sports can resume, according to MLive.
According to the Michigan High School Athletics Association (MHSAA), football is considered a "high risk" activity. Volleyball and soccer are labeled as "moderate" and swimming/diving is "low."
“We are thankful for the opportunity for kids to get back on the field in all fall sports, and we appreciate Governor Whitmer providing that opportunity with Executive Order 176 ‚” MHSAA executive director Mark Uyl said in a press release which you can read HERE. “We share the governor’s priorities of putting health and safety first, and the COVID-19 guidance and protocols designed by the MHSAA at her request have led to the safe starts in all sports across the state.
“Thirty-three other states are currently participating in all fall sports, and the MHSAA and its member schools are committed to doing this as safely as possible. We are ready to again provide those experiences to students and communities that have hoped for a return of some normalcy. Given the challenges of online education in many school districts across the state, providing sports and a daily routine may be more important than ever in motivating students and providing a safe outlet for physical activity, competition, and socialization.”